Archive for April, 2011

Annette Gernheuser, a cashier at Starbucks, showed off the Wow Award she received last week. She was surprised with the honor by, from left, Leah Mullen, Dr. Kaye Patten Wallace and Michelle Martinez.

Many people know Annette Gernheuser. In fact, a lot of folks probably see her almost every day.

She is a cashier at Starbucks.

And the Division of Student Affairs wants her to know that she is appreciated.

Last week, Gernheuser received the division’s Wow Award for her exemplary service to students, faculty, staff and visitors.

Dr. Kaye Patten Wallace, vice president for student affairs, and Michelle Martinez, dean of students, presented her with a certificate of recognition and a gift card.

“Not only does Annette smilingly ask every customer how he or she is doing and actually care to listen, but she also remembers the faces, names, stories and preferences of countless individuals who file past her register every day,” said Leah Mullen, an undergraduate majoring in geography and planning, who is on the Student Affairs Student Advisory Board and nominated Gernheuser.

“The little doses of support and kindness that she administers, whether as a quasi-counselor during the early morning hours or a familiar face during the lunchtime rush, are truly invaluable,” she said.

Gernheuser, an Aramark employee, has worked on campus 33 years.

“I love my job and always try to treat people the way I want to be treated,” she said. “I know some of the students, being away from home, need a friendly face. I feel like they are all my kids!”

UT outstanding advisers, researchers and teachers, and recipients of the Edith Rathbun Award for Outreach and Engagement were recognized last week at the Academic Honors Reception.

Recipients of the Outstanding Adviser Award are:

Dr. Christine Hinko, associate dean for student affairs and professor in the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. She joined the faculty in 1979.

“Dr. Hinko is dedicated to the education of students. Her focus is on providing for each and every student who is under her supervision the most up-to-date education available in the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences,” one nominator wrote. “She is caring, nonjudgmental, nurturing, personable, educated, generous, and does not put on airs. She is deeply interested in students.”

“Advising is an essential component of a university’s mission. It provides the key personal contact and direction students need to have successful college experiences. I consider it one of my most important roles at The University of Toledo,” Hinko said.

Robert Detwiler, adviser and recruiter in the College of Business and Innovation. He has worked at the University since 2006.

“Robert has always been a great adviser,” one nominator wrote. “Ever since I first met him when he helped me choose my business minor, he always has been willing and able to help me. He responds to e-mails promptly, advises in an efficient way, and even is willing to advise by phone when I can’t make it to his office.”

“When a student takes the time to thank me for a job well done, I acknowledge the compliment and then reply by saying that exceptional advising and a student-centered attitude should not be the exception; it should be the rule for everything we do,” Detwiler said.

Recipients of the Outstanding Researcher Award are:

Dr. Marthe Howard, professor of neurosciences. Since joining MCO in 1996, she has become an internationally known scientist for her work on neural development.

“She is known specifically for her work on the differentiation and specification of an indispensable neuronal class, namely the noradrenergic sympathetic neuron,” one nominator wrote. “Dr. Howard has identified a DNA binding protein that is critical for the normal development and generation of the noradrenergic neuron in the sympathetic nervous system. Her successful elucidation of the coordinated mechanisms that govern these developmental processes has contributed to the understanding of diseases that target noradrenergic neurons such as neuroblastoma cancer. Along these lines, Dr. Howard has proposed and is testing a novel therapeutic approach to glioma, a devastating brain tumor for which there is currently no cure.”

She has served as a permanent reviewer for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and reviews grants for the governments of France, Hong Kong and Israel. Her work has been funded by NIH for 21 years, and she is on the editorial board of Developmental Dynamics.

Dr. Shanhe Jiang, professor of criminal justice. He has been at the University since 2004.

His extensive research in comparative criminology and criminal justice is recognized around the globe. The top universities in China invited Jiang to speak about advanced statistics in social sciences and comparative criminology and criminal justice. He also was elected president-elect of the Association of Chinese Criminology and Criminal Justice in the United States. In addition, Jiang is a guest editor for the Asian Journal of Criminology’s special issue: Crime Control in Asian Countries, and for the Prison Journal’s special issue: Corrections in Asia. And his work was requested by two Harvard University professors to include in their book on statistics.

“Dr. Jiang’s publication on inmate adjustment to prison in the Prison Journal was the 10th most-frequently cited article from July 1, 2010, through January 1, 2011,” a nominator noted. “Two of his comparative publications were the 14th and 20th most-frequently cited articles in International Criminal Justice Review as of November 1, 2010.”

Dr. Gretchen Tietjen, professor and chair of neurology, director of the Headache Treatment and Research Program, and director of the Stroke Program. She joined the MCO faculty in 1996.

“Dr. Tietjen’s research has involved the function of blood vessels (endothelium) in persons with migraine and also the influence of childhood maltreatment on migraine and co-morbid conditions, including depression, pain disorders and cardiovascular disease,” one nominator wrote. “She was among the first to describe the systemic nature of endothelial dysfunction in migraine and, most recently, she reported on the relationship of both migraine and vascular disease biomarkers to childhood adversity.”

Her honors include the Seymour Solomon Research Lecture Award (2008) from the American Headache Society (AHS) and the Stroke Innovation Award (2009) from the American Heart Association journal Stroke for her article on endothelial activation in young women with migraine. This June, she will receive the prestigious AHS Harold G. Wolff Lecture Award for the year’s best paper on headache or the nature of pain itself.

Dr. Elizabeth Tietz, professor and vice chair of physiology and pharmacology, professor of neurosciences, and former director of the neuroscience and neurology disorders graduate track. The neuropharmacologist known for her work in substance abuse has been at the University since 1983.

Her internationally recognized research program focuses on synaptic mechanisms of tolerance and dependence to a class of sedative-hypnotic drugs known as benzodiazepines. One nominator noted that she has maintained an active NIH-funded research program since 1984, has authored more than 50 peer-reviewed articles, and has received numerous awards for research and mentoring. She served as a regular member of two NIH peer review panels and an ad hoc reviewer on at least 10 special NIH panels.

She directs two extramurally funded undergraduate summer research programs.

From 2006 to 2009, Tietz served on the program committee for the Society for Neuroscience, an international association of more than 30,000 members, where her responsibilities included supervising the scientific program. She recently was named to the society’s audit committee, which is responsible for overseeing the organization’s finances.

Recipients of the Edith Rathbun Award for Outreach and Engagement are:

The University of Toledo Press evolved from the Urban Affairs Center Press, which was established in 2002 as an imprint for a book Barden co-wrote about the Toledo Hungarian community. Initially, the press focused on publishing books on the history and culture of northwest Ohio. Along the way, Joel Lipman, professor of English, joined Barden in the work of the press and suggested including fiction, poetry and photography to expand the scholarly, nonfiction focus.

“To date, 12 titles have been published by the press, which continues to develop its inventory, with plans for books on Polish Americans in Toledo and African-American migration to the city,” one nominator wrote. “The UT Press provides a valuable outlet for scholarly publication for a regional audience. It is a benefit for both the authors and the community. It is one of the most visible aspects of the University’s community outreach and engagement.”

Dr. Michele Knox, associate professor of psychiatry. She is the regional director of the American Psychological Association’s ACT (Adults and Children Together) Raising Safe Kids Program.

Through the family violence and child maltreatment prevention program, groups of young parents and caregivers of children are trained in nonviolent discipline, child development, anger management and social problem-solving skills, as well as the effects of media on children and methods to protect children from exposure to violence.

“As the director of the ACT Great Lakes Regional Center, Dr. Knox has trained more than 2,500 professionals in Ohio, Michigan and Pennsylvania in family violence prevention and has implemented programs for more than 1,000 parents, benefiting approximately 2,500 children,” a nominator wrote. “She is a very articulate and passionate advocate for children, serving on the board of directors of End Physical Punishment of Children-USA, and she also is a member of Docs for Tots, a nationwide network of doctors advocating for young children.”

Recipients of the Outstanding Teacher Award are:

Dr. Sorin Cioc, assistant professor of manufacturing, industrial and mechanical engineering. He joined the College of Engineering faculty in 2004.

“Dr. Cioc is very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the subjects he teaches and is motivating,” one nominator wrote. “After a couple weeks of his classes, I realized what I lacked every other semester was confidence. I am confident I am learning the subject at hand. Even outside of class, I find myself looking at concepts that are talked about in class.” Another noted, “His door is always open; he is never too busy to help. And he challenges me to strive to do what I want to do.”

“Teaching is a quickly evolving activity that reflects how fast our student generations change, our society evolves, and our technology progresses,” Cioc said. “I feel privileged to work with our students because it works both ways: While I do my best to help them learn about some engineering topics, I always find a lot to learn from them.”

Dr. Laurence Fink, professor of management. He has taught in the College of Business and Innovation since 1994.

“Dr. Fink understands that ‘life’ happens and things come up,” one nominator wrote. “He has worked with me to get caught up and on any class I didn’t understand. He is supportive and encouraging.” “Nobody takes greater joy in having a student succeed than Dr. Fink. If you have him as a teacher, you’ll have a friend and mentor for life,” another wrote. “Developing a compensation structure for a mock company in class gave me the confidence and swagger to successfully launch my career.”

“My goal as a teacher is to make each course a unique opportunity for students to acquire essential information and skills that will help them in their future,” Fink said. “I set very high standards but have spent a great deal of time developing my courses to enable students to get over the ‘bar’ and achieve success rather than allowing the ‘bar’ to be lowered.”

Heather Hug, associate lecturer of kinesiology. She joined the College of Health Science and Human Service faculty in 2007.

“The physiology behind the human body is complex and overwhelming at times, but Ms. Hug found a way to relate this information in a simple manner,” a nominator wrote. “One example that sticks in my mind is the structure of the brain. She took a sheet of paper, crumpled it up and said, ‘This is your brain. Your brain is crumpled up like it is because it allows for the maximum surface area inside the skull compared to a flat sheet of paper.’”

“I believe it is my obligation to maintain the interest that brought students to the course in the first place,” Hug said. “To do this, I plan to help students find personal meaning and value in the material they are learning. To create an atmosphere that is open and positive, I maintain an open-door policy for students to visit my office for individual assistance.”

Marie Janes, associate lecturer of health professions. She has been a faculty member of the College of Health Science and Human Service since 2002.

“Ms. Janes is very organized, which helps students stay ahead of schedule and assists them with submission of assignments, tests, quizzes and exams so they don’t fall behind,” one nominator wrote. “She is highly motivating and creates a feeling of ‘never letting go’ in her students; this is important, especially in a distance-learning setting when students juggle multiple priorities and don’t experience face-to-face interaction with students and professors.”

“I strive to impart my education, expertise and knowledge to students who are willing to learn and passionate about a career in health care as an administrator,” Janes said. “The Health Information Administration Program is offered through Learning Ventures, and I am fortunate to be able to provide the greatest access and ultimate opportunity to UT students across the nation. I do my best to meet the needs of a diverse student population.”

Dr. Kim Schmude, clinical associate lecturer of pharmacy practice. She has been teaching in the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences since 2003.

“Dr. Schmude is very approachable and I feel that students can relate to her,” one nominator wrote. “In the pharmacy profession, some of the questions we have to answer may be uncomfortable to discuss with patients. In Dr. Schmude’s Self-Care class, she isn’t afraid to delve into these issues. She shares experiences she has had and teaches us how to handle similar situations in a professional manner.”

“Working as a community pharmacist 15 years before becoming a teacher impacts my style,” Schmude said. “I try to give the students the foundational material, but when applicable I always keep it practical and have stories about situations and questions that they might come across in their careers. Usually there is more than one correct answer, so I try to give them a framework of how to assess different situations and patients so they learn how to think on their own.”

Dr. Ivie Stein Jr., associate professor of mathematics. He joined the UT faculty in 1971.

“He was beyond detailed with his explanation of the material covered and always was ready to help any student that needed his help. He cared how his students performed and was willing to go out of his way to make sure they understood everything. He also was able to keep the class interesting with funny comments inserted throughout his lecture,” one nominator wrote. Another noted, “If more teachers were able to explain course material like Dr. Stein, students would be much more proficient in mathematics. His sense of humor and enthusiasm in and out of the classroom make him approachable and friendly.”

“My primary purpose in teaching mathematics is to make sure that students learn,” Stein said. “To achieve this goal, I attempt to provide clear, detailed explanations and written solutions to problems. I am willing to work individually with students who need or want help.”

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Gulch has worked at the University since 1999. She joined the staff as a secretary in the President’s Office and moved to Student Affairs in 2000.

“Having raised three children of her own, Ginnie knows how to help students with difficulties. She doesn’t just pass them along or suggest they call someone; she will pick up the phone and start making calls to find out how to help students resolve their problems,” one nominator wrote. “Ginnie’s positive attitude is admirable. In spite of some serious health issues this past year, she has come to work as often as possible and has been as pleasant as ever.”

“I’m very grateful for the nomination, and it is an honor to have been chosen for this award,” Gulch said.

Keller joined the UT staff in 1988. She has worked in the College of Business, Business Technology Department, the Center for Teaching Excellence, the Office of the Provost, and the Center for Teaching and Learning before joining Learning Ventures.

“I first met Chris in 2002, and I witnessed her exceptional contributions when she went out of her way to help me as I acclimated myself to the culture and opportunities at the University,” one nominator wrote. “I was impressed by her support of the women’s organizations on campus, especially the University Women’s Commission. She was one of the ‘faces’ at UT that I could recognize because she went out of her way to help faculty and staff.”

“I want to thank my nominator, Marie Janes, associate lecturer of health professions, and the University Women’s Commission Board. I have very much enjoyed the many people I have met and worked with over the years at UT,” Keller said. “And I want to dedicate this award to my mom, Dorothy Yager Best, who passed away three years ago. She gave birth to six daughters in 11 years then went to work nights as a head nurse at Mercy Hospital for 25 years. She was the truly outstanding woman in my life.”

Kneisley received a bachelor of education degree in 1981 from the University and started working at her alma mater in Athletics in 1985.

“Tammy is responsible for coordinating all NCAA, MAC and UT scholarship processing. This work effectively impacts all 15 sports and approximately 300 student-athletes. Her work requires a thorough understanding of NCAA policies, and Tammy has maintained the highest level of knowledge,” one nominator wrote. “The quality and quantity of Tammy’s work would not be achievable without the interpersonal skills she possesses. She has a very friendly and cooperative personality and always fulfills her duties in a professional manner.”

Receiving University Women’s Commission scholarships were Jacquelyn Kujawa, left, and Kaitlin Lawrence. Melissa Seedorf also received a scholarship but was unable to attend the program.

“It is such an honor to be chosen. I have had the privilege to work with many outstanding coaches and administrators over the years, but the highlight of my job is being a part of the student-athlete’s college experience,” Kneisley said. “I have worked with so many dedicated student-athletes from all walks of life and literally from all over the world who may not always receive the recognition due them, but they have certainly represented the University in the finest fashion. They’ve made me proud to be a Rocket!”

The University Women’s Commission also presented $1,000 scholarships to three students. Receiving awards based on academic achievement, support of women’s and gender issues, and campus and community involvement were:

• Jacquelyn Kujawa, a junior majoring in speech-language pathology;

• Kaitlin Lawrence, a junior majoring in speech-language pathology; and

• Melissa Seedorf, a senior majoring in chemical engineering.

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Team awards were presented at the 2010-11 Toledo Women’s Basketball Reception held in Savage Arena on Tuesday evening.

The Rockets won a school-record 29 games and became the first Mid-American Conference basketball program to capture a national postseason tournament. UT’s historic WNIT run was capped off by a 76-68 triumph over USC in the championship game before a school and conference women’s basketball record 7,301 fans.

Toledo also claimed an outright MAC regular-season championship for the first time in a decade with a 14-2 ledger, as well as successfully defending its MAC West Division title.
The complete list of award winners is as follows:

• Team MVP Award (top interior player): Senior Forward Melissa Goodall. She scored in double digits 29 times this season, second-highest total on the squad, tallying 12.9 points, a team-high 6.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.1 blocks in 30.8 minutes per game. The third-team all-league honoree finished seventh in the conference in rejections, 11th in overall rebounding and offensive caroms (2.62 rebounds per game), 12th in field-goal percentage (45.2 percent, 183 of 405), 13th in defensive boards (4.30 rebounds per game), 16th in scoring and 24th in minutes played. She led the Rockets in scoring on 22 occasions, as well as rebounds a squad-best 20 times and blocked shots on 15 occasions, earning all-league recognition for the second-consecutive season.

• Team MVP Award (top perimeter player): Junior Guard Naama Shafir. She averaged a team-high 15.3 points, a squad-best 5.1 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 30.8 minutes per game. The first-team All-MAC honoree finished third in the league in helpers (34th in NCAA), seventh in assist/turnover ratio (1.09), 10th in scoring and 23rd in minutes played. Shafir scored in double figures on a team-best 30 occasions this season, including a career-high 40 points vs. USC in the WNIT Championship Game April 2.

The 2011 State Farm All-America Region 4 Finalist also dished out at least six assists in a contest a team-high 14 times this season, finishing with a season-high 11 dimes vs. Eastern Michigan Jan. 15. She paced the MAC regular-season champions in scoring a squad-best 22 times, as well as assists a team-high 31 times and thefts on eight occasions, earning the top perimeter player recognition for the third-consecutive year.

• Most Improved Award: Sophomore Center Yolanda Richardson. She played her best basketball since donning the Midnight Blue and Gold during the historic WNIT run, averaging 11.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and a squad-best 1.0 blocks per game. The Toledo native shot a scorching 59.6 percent (34 of 57) from the field in 24.3 minutes in the six postseason victories, earning All-Tournament Team recognition. She scored in double digits in four of the WNIT contests, equaling her career-high with 20 points against SEC member Auburn in the second round March 19.

Overall in 2010-11, Richardson averaged 7.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, a squad-best 1.4 blocks and 0.5 steals in 18.1 minutes per game. She finished fourth in the MAC in blocked shots, fifth in field-goal percentage (50.8 percent, 123 of 242) and 13th in offensive boards (2.36 rebounds per game). She also swatted at least two shots in a game 15 times this season. She led the Rockets in blocked shots a squad-best 21 times, as well as rebounds on nine occasions and scoring and steals twice.

• Best Defender Award: Redshirt Freshman Guard Andola Dortch. She defended the best perimeter player on the opposition and paced the team in steals (1.7 steals per game), tied for the 12th-best theft average in the conference. Overall in 2010-11, the MAC All-Freshman Team honoree averaged 6.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 24.1 minutes per game. Dortch scored in double figures on nine occasions, including a season-high 17 points vs. Central Michigan March 2. She led the Rockets in steals a squad-best 13 times, as well as assists on seven occasions and rebounds six times.

The Akron, Ohio, native started the final 21 games of the season (18-3, .857), contributing 8.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists and a team-high 1.8 thefts in 30.2 minutes per game. She registered at least 10 points seven times during this stretch, totaling her first double-double with 13 points and a season-high 10 rebounds vs. Charlotte in the WNIT Semifinals March 30.

• Most Inspirational Award: Junior Wing Courtney Ingersoll. She played a key role for the Rockets coming off the bench this season. The 2010-11 tri-captain ranked third on the squad in triples (30) and blocked shots (9), tied for third in steals (42, 1.1 steals per game), fourth in assists (46, 1.2 assists per game), tied for fourth in rebounding (3.6 rebounds per game), sixth in minutes played (24.0 minutes per game) and seventh in scoring (4.2 points per game). She made at least two triples in a game six times and collected at least two thefts in a contest on nine occasions this season. Ingersoll also scored in double figures on two occasions, totaling a season-best 12 points vs. Western Michigan Feb. 16. She led the Rockets in steals eight times, rebounds and blocked shots on three occasions, as well as assists once.

Earlier this season, Ingersoll recorded a career-high seven thefts against Indiana Dec. 12. Her theft total vs. the Hoosiers is tied for the most in a game by a UT player since Kim Knuth also had seven vs. Kent State March 1, 1999.

Ingersoll also received the Sixth Man Award, sponsored by the Igniters, the Lady Rockets Fan Club, and the Academic Award (top GPA for fall semester and first portion of spring semester). Ingersoll posted a perfect 4.00 GPA during the fall semester and is on pace for another outstanding GPA for the spring term.

• Whatever it Takes Award: Sophomore Lecretia Smith. She was moved into the starting lineup this season to fill the void left by 2009-10 first-team All-MAC selection Tanika Mays in the post. She did an outstanding job before suffering a season-ending knee injury in the MAC Tournament, averaging 6.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.2 assists in 26.3 minutes per game. The Elmhurst, Ind., native scored in double figures on seven occasions, including a season-high 14 points at NCAA Tournament participant Dayton Dec. 5. The 5-foot-9 forward shot a squad-best 55.5 percent (81 of 146) from the field, ninth-best mark in school history in a single season. She led the Rockets in rebounds nine times, as well as steals on eight occasions and points and blocked shots once.

• Community Service Award: Senior Guard Jessica Williams. She played a significant role in Toledo’s involvement with the Josina Lott Residential & Community Services in 2010-11. The tri-captain and her teammates worked with selected individuals to help them learn everyday skills like personal hygiene, cooking, reading, writing, money management and eating/table manners, as well as social and recreational skills.

On the court in 2010-11, Williams averaged 9.2 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.1 steals in 29.6 minutes per contest. She started every contest and scored in double figures on 16 occasions, third-highest total on the team, including a season-high 24 points vs. Maryland, Baltimore County Nov. 27. The Westerville, Ohio, native made at least three triples in 13 games this season, including a season-best six three-point field goals on two occasions against UW-Milwaukee and UMBC. She finished the season second in the MAC in three-point field-goal percentage (40.0 percent, 84 of 210) and fifth in three-point field goals (2.27). Williams led the Rockets in steals 11 times, as well as scoring on five occasions and assists twice.

Nobel Laureate Dr. Ferid Murad will discuss how chemicals can provide signals to cancer and stem cells in a keynote speech Friday, April 29, at 1 p.m. in the Dana Center Auditorium during The University of Toledo Health Science Campus’ Research Day.

Murad later will receive an honorary doctor of science degree at 5 p.m. in the Toledo Hilton.

Both events are free and open to the public.

Dr. Jeffrey Gold, chancellor, executive vice president for biosciences and health affairs, and dean of the College of Medicine and Life Sciences, said Murad’s research into nitric oxide and its effect on blood vessels led to countless new therapies and diagnostic tools. Nitric oxide now is known to play a key role in many biological functions, including inflammation, blood flow regulation, cell growth, smooth muscle relaxation and preserving memory.

“We’re proud to honor one of the world’s foremost medical researchers,” Gold said. “We are honored by his attendance and excited to hear more about his research.”

Murad earned his MD and PhD from Western Reserve University in 1965. Following his clinical training, he served in academic, research and administrative roles at the University of Virginia, Stanford University, Northwestern University and the University of Texas. He also worked in the pharmaceutical industry, both at Abbott Laboratories and as president and CEO of Molecular Geriatrics Corp.

Murad’s work with nitric oxide began in graduate school and has continued throughout his career, earning him the Lasker Award in 1996 and the Nobel Prize for medicine in 1998. Murad recently joined the faculty at George Washington University and established a laboratory to continue his research.

“Every UT researcher and student will have a great example from the research of Dr. Ferid Murad. Dr. Murad was interested in blood vessels and vasodilatation in the 1990s while other scientists were interested in muscle phosphorylation,” said Dr. Nader Abraham, professor and chair of the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, who invited Murad to speak at UT.

“While others said blood vessel dilation wasn’t worth researching, Dr. Murad unlocked the secrets of nitric oxide that are now used in asthma and cardiovascular disease treatments as well as to halt heart attacks. Dr. Murad’s vision contributed to the understanding of the significance and the impact of basic science research on translational research as his work in the laboratory led directly to clinical treatments.”

Coincidently, Murad’s research into nitric oxide could have been used by Alfred Nobel, the Swedish chemist who founded the Nobel Prize, who suffered from angina, a tightening of the chest experienced due to a drop in blood supply to part of the heart.

Abraham said that even more odd was the fact that Nobel made his fortune using nitroglycerin to invent dynamite. At the time, nitroglycerin also was prescribed to alleviate angina, although Nobel couldn’t take it; it gave him headaches.

Murad also will speak to physicians, residents and students during a grand rounds lecture Thursday, April 28, at noon in Health Education Building Room 105.

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The second annual University of Toledo Health Science Campus Research Day, “Biomarkers, Therapeutics and Individualized Medicine,” will be held Friday, April 29, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Dana Center.

Murad

Six UT researchers will give presentations on their work, and more than 70 posters outlining ongoing basic, translational and clinical research will be on display. The highlight of the event will be a keynote speech at 1 p.m. by 1998 Nobel Prize winner in medicine Dr. Ferid Murad.

“We’re no longer just researching how to treat cancer or migraines. We’re researching how to treat individual patient migraines, which may well be a little different for every patient,” said Dr. Jeffrey Gold, chancellor and executive vice president for biosciences and health affairs and dean of the College of Medicine and Life Sciences.

Following opening remarks at 8 a.m. by Dr. Debra Gmerek, associate dean of research in the College of Medicine and Life Sciences, the schedule will be:

• 8:15 a.m. — “Biomarkers: Blood-Based Strategies to Monitor Metabolic Syndrome, CVD and the Promise of Clinical Application” by Dr. Nader Abraham, professor and chair of the Physiology and Pharmacology Department in the College of Medicine and Life Sciences;

• 8:40 a.m. — “2-Deoxyribose Fragments as Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress” by Dr. Amanda Bryant-Fredrich, associate professor of medicinal and biological chemistry in the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences;

• 9:05 a.m. — “Factors Differentiating Wanderers and Non-Wanderers Among Nursing Home Residents With Dementia” by Dr. Donna L. Algase, associate dean of research and evaluation in the College of Nursing;

• 9:45 a.m. — “Migraine and Biomarkers of Endothelial Activation” by Dr. Gretchen Tietjen, professor and chair of the Department of Neurology in the College of Medicine and Life Sciences;

• 10:10 a.m. — “Mechanistic Insights Into Cytoskeletal Dynamics During Cancer Cell Motility” by Dr. Kathryn Eisenmann, assistant professor of biochemistry and cancer biology in the College of Medicine and Life Sciences;

• 10:35 a.m. — “Prospective Multi-Site Clinical Validation Trial of a Long Cancer Risk Test” by Dr. James Willey, professor of medicine in the College of Medicine and Life Sciences;

Physicians will be able to earn continuing medical education credit of up to 3.5 hours for $35. Registration will be offered at the event.

The Health Sciences Research Day is sponsored by the UT Physiology and Pharmacology Department and the Jacobson Center for Clinical & Translational Research with support from UT Innovation Enterprises, Mettler Toledo and Rainin Instrument Co. It was organized by Gmerek and Dr. Bryan Yamamoto, professor and chair of the Department of Neurosciences.

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The College of Adult and Lifelong Learning will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its Military Service Center and Student Veteran Lounge Friday, April 29, at 2 p.m. in the Rocket Hall Visitor Center Lobby.

“The Military Service Center recently renovated its new space in Rocket Hall and expanded to include a Student Veteran Lounge complete with custom-designed military wall mural,” said Beth Gerasimiak, director of educational services in the College of Adult and Lifelong Learning. “We’ve created a unique environment where our military and veteran students can gather and feel welcome on campus.”

A reception will follow the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The center helps military and veteran students apply for GI benefits and certifies their eligibility through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, obtain and post military transcripts for credit, and makes referrals to community resources for additional assistance. The goal is to provide services that will help veterans and active duty military students transition from military life to the classroom and support them through successful degree completion.

“UT is considered a military-friendly school, but we want to be even more so,” said Dr. Dennis Lettman, dean of the College of Adult and Lifelong Learning. “There are many best practices for serving vets returning to school. The Military Service Center is one bright example of our commitment to them.”

“The Military Service Center certifies more than 400 students for GI benefits each semester. The center also received the distinction of military-friendly school by GI Jobs for 2011,” Gerasimiak added.

The Military Service Center joined the College of Adult and Lifelong Learning in fall 2010.

For more information, contact the Office of the Dean at 419.530.3072 or e-mail CALL@utoledo.edu.

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The University of Toledo is getting the word out about its new college that focuses on adult learners.

The UT College of Adult and Lifelong Learning (CALL) will have an open house from 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 28, in Rocket Hall rooms 1830-1840 on Main Campus.

The college provides access, career and life coaching, degree completion, and academic support to new, continuing and re-entering adult learners. CALL also helps students transition to college life and establish foundations for educational attainment, career success and lifelong learning.

“We are hoping to promote awareness of the college as it is one of the new colleges on campus,” said Mary Jo Borden, assistant director. “This college was formerly University College, so we are hoping to reach out to students on campus as well as prospective students and inform them of the change.”

Citing statistics from a presentation given by Carol Aslanian of Education Dynamics, Borden said 75 percent of college students can be classified as nontraditional, whether it’s because they are parents, attend part time, work full time or are financially independent.

According to Dr. Dennis Lettman, dean of the College of Adult and Lifelong Learning, demographic and economic forecasting data suggests that adult learners will continue to be a growing segment of college enrollments and will be needed to provide a skilled work force. Because of its flexible nature and innovative programs, the college helps to make an education more accessible to adults.

A 30-minute presentation, “Returning to Learning,” will include discussions on career and life planning issues, prior learning and how experiences you have had can be used in your academic journey, and how to make the transition back into schooling. It is geared toward prospective students, but anyone interested can attend, Borden said.

Representatives from the Office of Undergraduate Admission, Rocket Solution Central and Learning Ventures will be available to answer questions about admission, financial aid and online learning. Available as well will be applications for the Adult Learner Access Award, which provides qualified students $500 toward their first semester at UT.

“We can be an easy portal for adult learners who are thinking about coming back to school,” Borden said. “We listen to their strengths and interests and can help guide them to an undergraduate degree that fits them best, even if it is creating their own degree based on those interests.”

The University of Toledo is well on its way in preparation for the site visit from the Higher Learning Commission in February, but there is still much work to be done.

An update on the process to prepare for University accreditation was presented to the UT Board of Trustees External Affairs Committee last week with reports from the University delegation that attended the commission’s Annual Conference on Quality in Higher Education earlier this month in Chicago.

More than 3,000 people attended the conference; there were representatives from 87 colleges and universities in Ohio.

A key focus for the University in the next year will be strengthening and revising student learning outcomes, particularly for general education courses. The update of the core curriculum around a set of five competency areas — communication, scientific and quantitative reasoning and literacy, personal and social responsibility, information literacy, and critical and integrative thinking — is part of that effort.

It also is important for UT to show how its policies, procedures, mission statement, values, strategic plan and more interact and work together to improve student learning, University leaders learned at the conference.

The University has just completed the first draft of its self-study report, which is a large component of the reaffirmation of accreditation process. The final draft is to be completed by August.

Trustee Susan Palmer, the chair of the board’s External Affairs Committee, said there will be a report each meeting about the progress of preparing for the Higher Learning Commission visit because accreditation is so important to the University.

The University of Toledo Medical Center in conjunction with the Center for Continuing Medical Education will host a five-week Mini Med School for anyone interested in getting a glimpse of the training physicians receive.

The program is designed to give the experience of a first-year medical student. Each attendee will receive a course syllabus with handouts each week from the presenting faculty.

“We are holding these sessions for the general public as a means of highlighting the College of Medicine and some of our outstanding educational and clinical areas,” said Dr. James Kleshinski, associate dean for admissions in the UT College of Medicine and Life Sciences and director of the Mini Med School.

The program is open to anyone with a sense of curiosity and an interest in orthopedics and rehabilitation, pathology, pulmonary medicine, neurosciences and epilepsy, and vascular surgery and minimally invasive surgery.

The sessions will be held Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. May 4 through June 1 in Collier Building Room 1000B on the UT Health Science Campus. The session schedule will be:

• May 25 — Neurosciences and Epilepsy with Dr. Bryan Yamamoto, professor and chair of the Department of Neurosciences, and Dr. Imran Ali, professor of neurology and associate dean of clinical medical education; and

• June 1 — Vascular Surgery and Minimally Invasive Surgery with Dr. Gerald Zelenock, professor and chair of the Department of Surgery, and Dr. David Heidt, assistant professor of general surgery.

Registration is $35 for UT students and senior citizens, and $50 for all others.

The deadline to register is Wednesday, April 27, and applications should be sent to The University of Toledo, Mail Stop 1181, 3000 Arlington Ave., Toledo, OH 43614.